Surprising my mother over the years became increasingly challenging. She began to ask questions, talk to friends, and preemptively make sure there was nothing going on. Keeping her surprise a surprise was sometimes a job in itself, requiring elaborate measures to create a compelling narrative to preserve it. I remember praying that everything would work out, that no one would tell her, and that despite what she said, we would be able to get her to the designated location. That was my orison – my prayer.
After graduating from high school with honors, I received an academic scholarship for my first year of college, but at 17, I didn’t have the resources to continue beyond that. I worked full-time while attending college full-time until I could attain financial aid, and eventually attained my BA in economics. That was my orison.
